Reliable Auto DB

2024 Mazda MX-5 reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2024 Mazda MX-5 holds 5 complaints after 3 years, a rate of 2 per year. That is more complaints per year than most MX-5 years here — over the median of the other years, which is 1. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Traction control.

2012 Mazda MX-5
Photo by Chris Woodrich, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

5

Per year

2

Recalls

1

Years on the road

3

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (2 of 5), then Powertrain (2) and Exterior lighting (1).

Next to 2023 and 2025

The 2023 MX-5 has 7 complaints, 2 per year, and the 2025 has 3 complaints, 2 per year. The 2024 has fewer complaints per year than the 2023.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2024 Mazda MX-5. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (1)

Recall traction control 2025-05-22 · NHTSA campaign 25V336000
Summary Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Mazda MX-5 vehicles. The Traction Control System (TCS) and Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) indicator light may fail to illuminate as intended due to a software error. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
Remedy Dealers will replace the DSC unit, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 18, 2025. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 6. Mazda's number for this recall is 7425E.

Complaints by component (5 total)

Electrical system
2
Powertrain
2
Exterior lighting
1
Speed control
1
Visibility and wipers
1
Crash-flagged

0

Fire-flagged

0

Injury reports

0

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

3202522026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "My current vehicle has a headlight malfunction issue that has plagued the car since 2k. Under turning the swivel in the headlight will break or become off track.The headlight if it becomes off track the adaptive…"
    Electrical system · filed 2026-02-25
  • "The contact owns a 2024 Mazda MX-5. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, an unknown warning light illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that the failure had occurred several times. The…"
    Powertrain · filed 2026-01-23
  • "The vehicle has a recurrent malfunction of the Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS), part of the exterior headlight system and advertised as a safety feature within Mazda’s i-ACTIVSENSE technology. The failure presents…"
    Exterior lighting, Visibility and wipers · filed 2025-12-20
  • "Driving vehicle on highway could not get the manual transmission into 3rd gear. Had to double clutch in order to do so. The vehicle only had 5,700 miles. The transmission produced a loud whining sound that could be…"
    Powertrain · filed 2025-12-17
  • "I was driving on interstate 30 with the cruise control on and I needed to slow down as there was roadwork so I pressed down the brakes to disengage the cruiser control and slow the vehicle down, the vehicle not only not…"
    Electrical system, Speed control · filed 2025-10-14

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2024 Mazda MX-5 C RWD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
MX-5 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Rear-wheel drive 26 35 29 MPG $2750
MX-5 2L, 4-cyl Manual 6-speed Rear-wheel drive 26 34 29 MPG $2750

Specs and fitment

5th generation (NE), 2024–present
Body styles Roadster
Oil SAE 0W-20 (SKYACTIV-G 2.0L) , 4.5 qt capacity
Tire size 195/50R16, 205/45R17 (trim-dependent)

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA safety recall 25V336000 covers affected vehicles after the agency found that mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Mazda MX-5 vehicles. The Traction Control System (TCS) and Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) indicator light may fail to illuminate as intended due to a software error. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems.". An indicator light that does not illuminate may fail to warn the driver of a TCS or DSC system issue, increasing the risk of a crash. Remedy: Dealers will replace the DSC unit, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 18, 2025. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 6. Mazda's number for this recall is 7425E.

Compare

Previous year 2023 Mazda MX-5 See every Mazda MX-5 model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2024 Mazda MX-5 reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2024 Mazda MX-5 holds 5 complaints after 3 years, a rate of 2 per year. That is more complaints per year than most MX-5 years here — over the median of the other years, which is 1. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Traction control.

What are common problems with a 2024 Mazda MX-5?

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (2 of 5), then Powertrain (2) and Exterior lighting (1).

Is the 2024 Mazda MX-5 more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2023 MX-5 has 7 complaints, 2 per year, and the 2025 has 3 complaints, 2 per year. The 2024 has fewer complaints per year than the 2023.

Has the 2024 Mazda MX-5 been recalled?

The 2024 Mazda MX-5 has 1 recall on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2024 Mazda MX-5?

Owners have filed 5 complaints about the 2024 Mazda MX-5 with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2024 Mazda MX-5 get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2024 Mazda MX-5 is 29 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What engine oil does a Mazda MX-5 Miata use?

NC (2012-2015): SAE 5W-30 for the 2.0L MZR. ND/NE (2016-on): SAE 0W-20 for SKYACTIV-G 2.0L.

What does NHTSA recall 24V695000 cover on ND MX-5?

Certain 2016-2023 MX-5 Miata vehicles: a software error in the air bag control module may cause the front air bags to deploy with excessive force.

What tire size does the NC MX-5 use?

205/45R17 on the NC generation listed here.